Borussia Dortmund
the Schwarzgelben Elite.

Borussia Dortmund First-Team Squad

Niko Kovač’s BVB are led by captain Nico Schlotterbeck and powered by prolific striker Serhou Guirassy up front. In goal, elite shot-stopper Gregor Kobel is one of the world’s best, while summer signings Jobe Bellingham, Fabio Silva and Carney Chukwuemeka add youthful quality to the squad.

Squad correct as of the summer 2026 window, which runs until 1 September — numbers and personnel may change. Follow every BVB fixture and prediction at AI Pro Prediction and our Champions League predictions hub.

Borussia Dortmund: A Complete Guide to Die Schwarzgelben

Origins and Identity

Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e.V. Dortmund was founded on 19 December 1909 by a group of young men in the industrial Ruhr city of Dortmund. The name ‘Borussia’ is the Latin word for Prussia, taken from a local brewery, and over more than a century the club has grown into one of the most popular, passionate and successful institutions in German football. Representing a proud working-class city in Germany’s industrial heartland, Dortmund carry a powerful sense of community and identity that runs through everything the club does.

Playing in their iconic bright yellow and black colours, the club is universally known as Die Schwarzgelben (the black and yellows) and simply as BVB. Dortmund’s spiritual home is the magnificent Signal Iduna Park, formerly the Westfalenstadion, the largest stadium in Germany with a capacity of over 81,000. Its most famous feature, the towering Yellow Wall (Die Gelbe Wand) — the vast standing terrace of the south stand that holds nearly 25,000 supporters — is the largest terrace in European football and creates one of the most spectacular and intimidating atmospheres anywhere in the world.

A History of Success

Dortmund have established themselves as one of the giants of German football, second only to Bayern Munich in terms of stature and support. The club won its first German championship in 1956, successfully defending the title the following year, and added a third in 1963 before the formation of the modern Bundesliga. In 1966, Dortmund made history by becoming the first German club ever to win a major European trophy, lifting the European Cup Winners’ Cup, a landmark achievement in the history of the German game.

The club enjoyed a golden era in the 1990s under coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. Dortmund won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 1994–95 and 1995–96, and then reached the pinnacle of European football by winning the Champions League in 1997, defeating the mighty Juventus 3–1 in the final in Munich. That triumph, inspired by players such as Matthias Sammer, Andreas Möller and Karl-Heinz Riedle, remains one of the proudest moments in the club’s history and confirmed Dortmund as a genuine European powerhouse.

From the Brink to Rebirth

Dortmund’s history has not been without adversity. In the early 2000s, following the excitement of a Bundesliga title in 2001–02 and a UEFA Cup final appearance, the club overextended itself financially and came perilously close to bankruptcy in 2005, a crisis that threatened the very existence of BVB. Through careful management, restructuring and the loyalty of its supporters, the club survived and rebuilt itself on a more sustainable footing.

This period of hardship shaped the modern Dortmund, instilling a commitment to financial prudence and a business model built around developing and selling talented players. The club emerged stronger and more focused, and the recovery set the stage for the glorious Klopp era that followed. Dortmund’s journey from the brink of ruin to Champions League finalists stands as a testament to the resilience of the institution and the devotion of its supporters, who never abandoned their club in its hour of need.

The Klopp Era and Modern Glory

Dortmund’s most celebrated modern era came under the charismatic management of Jürgen Klopp between 2008 and 2015. Klopp built a thrilling, high-energy young side that played a fearless brand of pressing football he termed ‘Gegenpressing’, and which captured the imagination of fans across the world. His Dortmund won back-to-back Bundesliga titles in 2010–11 and 2011–12, the latter as part of a domestic double, breaking the dominance of Bayern Munich in spectacular style.

Klopp’s side, featuring stars such as Robert Lewandowski, Mario Götze, Marco Reus and İlkay Gündoğan, also reached the Champions League final in 2013, narrowly losing to Bayern Munich at Wembley in an all-German showpiece. That team is remembered with enormous affection as one of the most exciting and beloved sides in modern football, and Klopp’s tenure re-established Dortmund as a major force in Germany and Europe, laying the foundations for the club’s identity in the years that followed. The German coach departed for Liverpool in 2015, but the attacking, high-energy philosophy he instilled and the emotional connection he forged with the supporters left a lasting imprint on the club that endures to this day.

Recent European Adventures

In more recent seasons, Dortmund have continued to demonstrate their pedigree on the biggest stage. The club enjoyed a remarkable run to the Champions League final in 2024, overcoming several strong opponents to reach the showpiece at Wembley, where they were narrowly beaten by Real Madrid. That campaign reminded the footballing world of Dortmund’s capacity to produce magical European nights and to compete with the very best clubs on the continent, driven by the passion of their support and the quality of their squad.

These deep European runs, allied to the club’s proud history in the competition, underline Dortmund’s status as one of the most respected sides in European football. The Signal Iduna Park has become a venue that Europe’s elite approach with genuine caution, its unique atmosphere capable of inspiring the team to extraordinary performances against even the most illustrious opposition. For BVB, the Champions League represents both a cherished part of their heritage and a stage on which they always aspire to shine.

Full Honours and Achievements

Borussia Dortmund’s trophy cabinet reflects a club of genuine pedigree:

• Bundesliga / German Championship: Eight-time German champions, one of the most successful clubs in the country’s history.
• DFB-Pokal: Five-time winners of the German Cup.
• UEFA Champions League / European Cup: Winners in 1997.
• UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup: Winners in 1966, the first European trophy won by a German club.
• Intercontinental Cup: Winners in 1997, crowning them world club champions.
• DFL-Supercup: Multiple German Super Cup triumphs.

This collection of honours, spanning domestic, European and world titles, establishes Dortmund as one of the most decorated and historically significant clubs in German football, and one of only a select group of German sides to have conquered Europe. The 1997 Champions League triumph, in particular, remains a defining achievement in the club’s proud history.

Legendary Players Through the Ages

Dortmund have been home to, and have developed, many outstanding footballers. The 1997 European champions featured German greats such as Matthias Sammer, a Ballon d’Or winner, while the Klopp era produced or showcased a remarkable generation of talent, including Robert Lewandowski, who developed into one of the greatest strikers of all time, and homegrown hero Marco Reus, a one-club icon beloved by the Dortmund faithful for his loyalty and brilliance.

The club has earned a global reputation as one of the finest developers of young talent in world football, a place where gifted youngsters come to flourish before often moving on to Europe’s biggest clubs. Jadon Sancho, Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Ousmane Dembélé all enhanced their reputations at Dortmund. Today, the squad is led by captain Nico Schlotterbeck and features the prolific striker Serhou Guirassy, alongside exciting talents such as Jobe Bellingham, carrying forward the club’s proud tradition of blending youth with quality.

A Model for Youth Development

Borussia Dortmund have built a global reputation as one of the finest clubs in the world for developing and showcasing young talent. The club’s model — identifying gifted young players, giving them a platform to flourish in a high-profile, attacking team, and playing in front of the electric Yellow Wall — has proved enormously attractive to the best young footballers in the world. This approach has brought both sporting success and significant financial reward through the sale of developed players.

The list of stars who enhanced their reputations at Dortmund is extraordinary: Erling Haaland became one of the most feared strikers on the planet, Jude Bellingham developed into a global superstar before his move to Real Madrid, and Jadon Sancho and Ousmane Dembélé both shone in the black and yellow. This ability to attract, develop and showcase elite young talent is central to Dortmund’s identity and a key part of what makes the club so admired and respected throughout world football. For ambitious young footballers, a move to Dortmund has come to represent an ideal stepping stone, offering the platform, the exposure and the electric environment in which to announce themselves to the world.

The Revierderby and Rivalries

Dortmund’s fiercest rivalry is with fellow Ruhr club Schalke 04, contested in the Revierderby — one of the most intense, passionate and historic derbies in all of German football. The clash between the two great clubs of the Ruhr industrial region is a matter of enormous local pride, dividing the region and generating an atmosphere of ferocious intensity whenever the two sides meet. It is a fixture steeped in history and rivalry that means everything to supporters of both clubs.

Dortmund also share a significant rivalry with Bayern Munich, whose long-standing dominance of German football BVB have most consistently challenged. Matches between the two, known as Der Klassiker, have become the biggest fixture in German football, frequently deciding the destiny of the Bundesliga title and drawing global audiences. These rivalries add drama, passion and intensity to every Dortmund season and are central to the club’s story.

The Yellow Wall and Club Culture

No discussion of Borussia Dortmund is complete without celebrating the Yellow Wall, the vast south terrace of Signal Iduna Park that stands as the beating heart of the club. On matchdays, nearly 25,000 supporters create a wall of yellow and black, generating a level of noise, colour and passion that is unrivalled in world football. The atmosphere on European nights, in particular, is legendary, intimidating opponents and inspiring the team in equal measure.

Dortmund’s culture is rooted in the working-class values of the Ruhr region and a deep, authentic connection between the club and its community. The club is renowned for its fan-friendly ethos, affordable ticketing and the extraordinary loyalty of its supporters, who follow the team in enormous numbers. This bond between BVB and its fanbase — one of the largest and most passionate in Germany and beyond — is central to the club’s identity and one of its greatest strengths.

Playing Style and the Kovač Era

Dortmund have long been associated with attacking, high-tempo football and the development of young, dynamic players, a philosophy that defines the club’s identity. For the current era, BVB are guided by the experienced Croatian coach Niko Kovač, who brings tactical discipline, organisation and a strong work ethic to the dugout. A former Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal winner with Bayern Munich, and with previous experience at Eintracht Frankfurt and Wolfsburg, Kovač arrived with a clear mandate to restore consistency and challenge at the top of German football.

Kovač’s approach combines defensive solidity with the attacking quality that Dortmund’s talented squad possesses, seeking to blend the club’s traditional flair with greater reliability. Under his guidance, Dortmund secured a return to the Champions League, and the coach continues to shape a side capable of competing with Bayern Munich domestically while making an impact on the European stage where the club’s history and support demand success.

The 2025–26 Season and Champions League Return

The 2025–26 season saw Borussia Dortmund secure a strong fourth-placed finish in the Bundesliga, sealing qualification for the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League. In a competitive campaign, Kovač’s side demonstrated the resilience and quality required to claim a coveted place among Europe’s elite, reaffirming Dortmund’s status as one of Germany’s leading clubs and ensuring the famous Yellow Wall would once again witness Champions League nights at Signal Iduna Park.

Striker Serhou Guirassy was central to the club’s success with his prolific goalscoring, while captain Nico Schlotterbeck marshalled the defence and the squad’s blend of youth and experience delivered when it mattered most. With continuity under Kovač and a talented group of players, Dortmund head into the new season with genuine ambition. For all the latest Dortmund match previews, team news and score forecasts, follow our Champions League match predictions throughout the season.

Signal Iduna Park: A Fortress

Signal Iduna Park, opened in 1974 and expanded over the years, is the largest stadium in Germany and one of the most iconic football grounds in the world. With a capacity exceeding 81,000, it regularly boasts among the highest average attendances of any club in world football, a reflection of the extraordinary support Dortmund enjoy. The stadium’s steep stands bring supporters close to the action, amplifying the noise and intensity generated by the Yellow Wall and the passionate crowd.

On the biggest occasions, particularly in the Champions League, the atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park is regarded as one of the finest and most intimidating in the entire sport. Visiting Teams and players have frequently spoken in awe of the wall of sound and colour that greets them, and the ground has become a genuine fortress that gives Dortmund a significant advantage. For BVB supporters, the stadium is a place of pilgrimage and pride, the spiritual home of a club that means everything to them.

A Publicly Owned Institution

Uniquely among Europe’s biggest clubs, Borussia Dortmund is a publicly traded company, listed on the German stock exchange, while still adhering to Germany’s tradition of significant member and fan involvement in the running of the club. This structure, combined with the club’s fan-friendly ethos of affordable tickets and community engagement, reflects Dortmund’s deep roots in the working-class culture of the Ruhr and its commitment to remaining accessible to its supporters.

The club is renowned throughout football for putting its fans at the heart of everything it does, resisting some of the commercial excesses seen elsewhere in the modern game. This authenticity and connection to its community are a fundamental part of what makes Dortmund so widely admired and beloved, not only in Germany but around the world, where the club has attracted a vast and growing international following drawn to its exciting football, its incredible atmosphere and its genuine values.

Looking Ahead

As Borussia Dortmund enter the 2026–27 season, the objectives are clear: to challenge Bayern Munich at the top of the Bundesliga, to make a deep run in the Champions League, and to continue the club’s proud tradition of developing and showcasing outstanding young talent. With Niko Kovač building a disciplined and ambitious side, the goals of Serhou Guirassy, the leadership of captain Nico Schlotterbeck and the incomparable backing of the Yellow Wall, Dortmund have every reason for optimism. For a club that combines a glorious history — German champions, European Cup winners and world champions — with one of the most passionate fanbases in the sport, nothing less than a sustained challenge for major honours will satisfy the demands of the black-and-yellow faithful as BVB pursue glory at home and across Europe. With a squad rich in young talent and proven quality, an experienced coach in Niko Kovač shaping the team, and the unrivalled backing of the greatest terrace in world football, Dortmund enter the new campaign determined to close the gap on Bayern Munich and to once again light up the Champions League with the fearless, thrilling football that has made Die Schwarzgelben one of the most loved clubs on the planet.